Outlaws

What an incredible novel that takes us back to the heady days of Gerona in 1978, a city of two halves dealing in part with poverty and social decay, and in part the elation and opportunity of post-Franco Spain. 

<em>Outlaws</em> is told through a series of interviews with Cañas, a former juvenile gang member-turned-lawyer; Inspector Cuenca, the policeman who worked to dismantle the gang and capture its leader, Zarco; and the head of the prison where Zarco was held, a man who saw straight through the former gang leader. 

The book starts when Cañas is 16. Seeking an escape from the increasingly violent and humiliating bullying he is experiencing from his supposed friends, Cañas meets a gang of delinquents and falls in love with Tere. In an account spanning over 30 years, Tere's complicated relationship with both Zarco and Cañas will have far-reaching consequences for not just the 3 but their families, colleagues, and for society as a whole. 

Cercas weaves together an incredible story of misunderstandings, betrayals, and faulty perceptions, as the narrators come to realise in real time the folly of their past deeds, beliefs and assumptions. 

I loved that this novel takes place in a part of the world that I visited for many a year. I also love that it introduced me to a side of Gerona and the Costa Brava that I had definitely not seen as a visitor. 

I only learned about this author by searching for new releases in the same vein as Paul Auster, Margaret Atwood, Milan Kundera and Damon Galgut and I think I might have a new favourite.

Javier Cercas' mastery of the "non-fiction novel" is evident in that "Outlaws" reads like a true story. I came away believing that all of the characters, as well as their interweaving histories, could easily be 100% real. The author's first-hand knowledge of Barcelona helped frame the action in neighborhoods that evolved over the years, as if it were yet another character. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down until I finished.